Total department store sales were 98.5 million pounds, down 4.7 percent on the same week last year.

"Sales at the beginning of the week were impacted by the New Year's Day bank holiday falling on a Monday annualised against last year when the bank holiday fell on a Sunday," it said.

Waitrose sales were distorted by the fall of New Year's Eve which fell in the previous trading week last year.

(Compiled by James Davey)